U.S. Lays Groundwork for Rescuing Coal Plants With Grid Report

摘要

The Energy Department, in a long-anticipated report on the security of the U.S. electric grid, makes the case for rescuing the nation's coal industry from widespread plant shutdowns, but stops short of an assault on renewable power that environmentalists had feared. The study, commissioned by Energy Secretary Rick Perry who has warned that policies favoring solar and wind may be forcing shut plants and threatening the grid, recommends that the Environmental Protection Agency ease rules on coal plants. It also calls for changes to how wholesale electricity is traded and easier permitting for resources such as coal, nuclear, and hydropower.